We still have a lot of questions after Week 5, but we have some answers as well. Some teams have risen above the pack and proved to the Arkansas River Valley and the state that they aren’t going down with a losing season this year. Others, well, they aren’t quite there yet.

There’s still time — but it’s running out — fast.

Business as usual

• Pottsville Apaches — The Apaches are happy to have gotten through their game with Dardanelle Sand Lizards without tarnishing their perfect record.

“We have to get better on offense,” Pottsville head coach Bryan Rust told his players after the game. He had them look at the scoreboard, which is something I’ve seen him do several times after a game.

A win is a win.

The Apaches numbers weren’t as phenomenal as we are used to seeing, but they did what good teams do — they got the job done.

Senior quarterback Michael Perry was 4-of-10 for 71 yards and a touchdown. Perry picked up an additional 83 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Behind him, Taylor Waddel grabbed 26 yards on five carries.

Oh, I almost forgot.

Perry also recorded nine tackles from his perch at safety on defense. My favorite tackle: Dardanelle’s T.J. Tucker, who can probably outrun just about anyone in the 4A-4 Conference, broke free and headed toward the end zone. Most of the time, that means touchdown. But not this time.

This time, Perry ran him down from behind and tackled him. It was among the greatest things I’ve seen in high school football — so far.

By the way, a few of my other favorite moments include: A one-handed snag by Russellville’s Jalen Curtis against ... I can’t remember, it was in 2012. I remember the catch as clear as day, though.

It was the moment I realized Curtis was going to make waves. Another was when Lamar took on Atkins in 2012 and the now-graduated Justus Williams high-kneed his way through the Red Devils offensive line. You don’t see that in high school very often.

• Lamar Warriors — Lamar’s got a test on Friday. I hope they’ve studied. The Warriors improved to 5-0 in Week 5 after topping Mansfield 36-7, but that’s not a surprise — it was business as usual.

The test will be the Cedarville Pirates, who are also 5-0. You may remember the Pirates as the team that edged out Atkins 21-20 in Week 4 in overtime. Last week, they scored 46 on Danville.

Believe me when I say Lamar head coach Josh Jones is nervous about this one.

• Hector Wildcats — The one-two punch of Gus Nichols and Tyler Brashear continued to be effective as the Wildcats claimed a 33-9 win over the Magazine Rattlers. Nichols ran for 97 yards on 23 carries and scored three touchdowns. Brashear added another 73 yards and a touchdown.

Hector will host the Mountainburg Dragons on Friday, which will prove to be yet another test for the emerging Wildcats.

The Dragons are 3-2, 2-1 in the 2A-4 Conference. Mountainburg fell to Union Christian in Week 2 and Cedarville in Week 1.

Shockers

• Clarksville Panthers — The Panthers defeated the Huntsville Eagles 21-14 and improved one game over last season’s 1-9 record. Last year the Eagles shut out Clarksville 20-0.

I’m a sucker for good defensive performances. Nathaniel Box had 23 tackles, two tackles for loss and broke up a pass during the victory.

• Russellville Cyclones — Man, it’s been a rough two weeks for the Cyclones. You have to admire Russellville’s last-minute break for a homecoming victory. The Cyclones put 20 points on the board in the fourth quarter during their 27-20 loss to the Northside Grizzlies on Friday.

Cody Jones had great numbers during the loss. The senior quarterback was 30-of-46 for 298 yards and three touchdowns, and when Northside decideded to take away Russellville receivers Jalen Curtis, Tony Jones and Co-Chese Temple-Laws — senior tight end Drew Smith picked up the slack with 123 yards on four catches. And Jones should have thrown to him a lot more.

Smith broke his leg last season against the Alma Airedales. Looks like he’s making up for lost time.

• Dardanelle Sand Lizards — Most of the time, you can’t fumble four times in one game, throw an interception and miss two field goals and a 2-point conversion and come away with a victory. The Sand Lizards found that out the hard way on Friday against the Apaches.

Actually, I think it speaks pretty well of the Sand Lizards and their coaching staff that when Dardanelle scored their final touchdown to set the final 21-18 score with time running out — they could have tied it if it hadn’t been for the previously mentioned blown opportunities. An extra point for each of their touchdowns, and the game goes into over time. From there? Who knows.

I’m going to say this: Dardanelle games are fun. The atmosphere is electric. The entire community shows up. The band is crazy, cheering and loud — everything a marching band should be. It’s a great atmosphere and I highly suggest everyone take a Friday to go see them.

• Johnson County Westside Rebels — Go Rebels! Westside defeated the Decatur Bulldogs 36-29 on Friday. The Rebels play the Hartford Hustlers next week and I do believe they can make it two-straight.

Question Marks

• Atkins Red Devils — It seems like the Red Devils have just been one step behind the last two games. Two weeks ago a 21-20 overtime loss to Cedarville, and Friday it was a 28-20 loss to the Lavaca Golden Arrows.

It’s a rough patch — and it’s about to get rougher. The Red Devils will travel to face the undefeated Charleston Tigers.

Let me walk you through a typical Tigers scoreboard.

Hint: it’s a lot to a little, with the scale tipped for Charleston. The Tigers’ closest game was in Week 2 when they beat Gentry 23-15. The rest look more like the Week 3 score (44-6) against Ozark.

• Two Rivers Gators — It’s all about how you respond to defeat. I don’t think the Gators are in any danger of “giving up” just because a talented Fountain Lake team beat them 44-27, but that is yet to be determined. The Gators will host the Centerpoint Knights on Friday. Last year, this was a 33-25 loss for Two Rivers.

But that was last year, and the Gators have grown. Also, this will be homecoming and nobody likes to lose homecoming. Two Rivers schedule of events is as follows: Daytime homecoming ceremony, 1:30-2:30 p.m. inside Gator Gymnasium; nightime homecoming ceremony 6:30 p.m. at Gator Field. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 7.

• Danville Little Johns — The Little Johns were undone by Cedarville on Friday 46-19. There’s that name again: Cedarville.

• Dover Pirates — The Mena Bearcats took down Dover 40-8 which is decidedly unfun if you’re a Pirates fan. Dover still has time to salvage its season, but things are looking grim. The Pirates still have Pottsville and Booneville on the schedule. Next week: Maumelle.

• Western Yell Wolverines — What can I say. I’m still rooting for this team, but these guys need something good to happen and quick. Last week’s 33-19 loss to Hackett was almost it — but alas, no. Junior quarterback Trent Cobb did everything he could to make it happen. Cobb only threw nine complete passes but picked up 150 yards and a touchdown. Cobb managed another 66 yards on the ground and another touchdown.